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Sunnyvale, California (PRWEB) February 20, 2012

The BeezKneez Designs, in association with The Artisan Group, will be featured on February 24-25, 2012 at a luxury Gift Lounge hosted by GBK Productions at The W Hotel in Hollywood, California, in honor of the 84th Annual Academy Award Nominees and Presenters.

All attending celebrities and members of the press will receive a collection of The BeezKneez’s designer stationery in their swag bags. The exclusive collection of stationery will also be prominently on display during the event.

ABOUT BEEZKNEEZ DESIGNS

Founded in 2008, The BeezKneez is a popular online paper goods shoppe specializing in trendy, completely customizable invitations, announcements, stationery, and personalized gifts.

Valerie S. Guerrero, the founder and chief designer for The BeezKneez, is a seasoned professional with a well-rounded background in graphic design and operations management. Having spent nearly four years as a lead designer for Cisco Systems in the Silicon Valley, California, Guerrero left her position in early 2010 to concentrate solely on her successful design shoppes.

Popular products include customized birth announcements, party invitations, graduation announcements, designer iPhone and iPad cases, personal stationery and other gifts.

The BeezKneez recently gifted Hollywood actresses Jessica Alba, Ginnifer Goodwin, Zooey Deschanel, and Hillary Duff with a collection of personalized stationery through The Artisan Group. In April, The BeezKneez will gift an exclusive collection of various personalized paper goods to A-list celebrity Tom Cruise and family.

In addition to her flagship online store, Guerrero also designs niche products such as wedding invitations, baby announcements, and children’s party invitations for eight additional stores she also manages. Her designs are customized and sold to customers every day all over the world.

The BeezKneez Designs is not in any way associated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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Orlando, FL (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

More than 30 sword swallowers will be ?dropping swords? at Ripley?s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide at 2:25 p.m. on February 25, in celebration of the 6th annual World Sword Swallower?s Day. In excess of 125 feet of solid steel is set to go down the hatch ? hopefully without a scratch!

Sword Swallowers Association International and Ripley?s Believe It or Not! pay homage to the art of sword swallowing with free shows on February 25

On February 25, SSAI sword swallowers will be putting on free shows at more than a dozen Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide, including: New York City; Hollywood, CA; Orlando and St. Augustine in FL; Grand Prairie, TX; San Francisco, CA; Gatlinburg, TN; Branson, MO Niagara Falls, Canada as well as London, England.

Performances typically start around 2 pm local time and culminate with an official ?swallow? that will take place at 2:25 p.m. to coincide with the 2/25/12 date.

?We established World Sword Swallower?s Day to honor this ancient art and recognize the few people in the world who can do this,? explains Dan Meyer, a sword swallower whose amazing feats have been chronicled by Ripley?s Believe It or Not!. ?We also raise awareness of the contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science and raise money for esophageal cancer research.?

Ripley?s Believe It or Not! has a long history of highlighting the death-defying achievements of sword swallowers.

?Sword swallowers were a big part of the very first Ripley?s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at the Chicago World?s Fair in 1933,? said Tim O?Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. ?There, three performers, two of whom were women, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley?s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.?

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley?s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 12 million people visit its 85-plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley?s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

About Sword Swallowing

The art of sword swallowing began more than 4,000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the deadly art around the world today.

About the Sword Swallowers Association International

Founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, SSAI is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world and maintains a website with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at http://www.swordswallow.com.

Contacts

Tim O?Brien

VP Communications

Ripley Entertainment Inc.

(615) 646-7465 ? office

(615) 496-5949 ? cell

Obrien(at)ripleys(dot)com

Dan Meyer

President

Sword Swallowers Assoc. International

(615) 969-2568

halfdan(at)aol(dot)com

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Ottawa, Ontario (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute has completed an industry wide cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) study for the Gypsum Association of the industry?s two most common gypsum wallboard products: ?? regular and 5/8? type X gypsum wallboard.

Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability of the built environment, the Gypsum Association commissioned the study in early 2011 to get life cycle assessment answers using contemporary assessment methods, and to be able to upload reliable and up-to-date life cycle inventory data to the US Life Cycle Inventory Database and have these data integrated into key building LCA tools, such as the Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings and EcoCalculator for Building Assemblies.

Working with Dr. Robert Wessel of the Gypsum Association, Dr. Lindita Bushi and Mr. Jamie Meil of the Athena Institute completed the year long study with considerable input from the Gypsum Association?s membership. The Athena team designed the study to be a representative, transparent and ISO 14040/44:2006 compliant cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of 1,000 square feet of both ?? regular and 5/8? type X gypsum wallboard as produced in the United States in 2010. Both products are used extensively in building construction and renovation.

In support of the study, primary life cycle inventory (LCI) data were collected for three major gate-to-gate processes in the production of gypsum wallboard (natural or crude gypsum ore extraction, gypsum paper manufacture, and gypsum wallboard production) for the reference year 2010. The manufacturing plant study sample included all Gypsum Association member companies and represented about 30% of all gypsum wallboard produced in the USA. To ensure representativeness, the manufacturing plant study also considered the scale of operations including a mix of small, medium and large facilities, their geographical location in each US census region and their source of gypsum (adjacent quarry, mine, or imported gypsum ore) as well as their use of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) gypsum.

The study underwent third-party critical review (by theGreenTeam, Inc.) and the resulting data are currently being uploaded to the US LCI Database and incorporated into the Athena tools, the Impact Estimator and EcoCalculator. Athena continues to work with Gypsum Association member companies, providing them with additional corporate level LCA services and summaries of the LCA results for the subset of their plants included in the industry level study.

Michael Gardner, the Gypsum Association?s Executive Director, expressed his appreciation to Athena as follows: ?Thank you for a fine project. It has been a pleasure to work with you and your team and I am hopeful we will work together again in the future. An excellent job leading us through a complex process.?

For more information about the Gypsum Association, visit their website: http://www.gypsum.org.

ABOUT THE ATHENA INSTITUTE:

The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute is a membership-based non-profit research collaborative bringing life cycle assessment (LCA) to the construction sector. The Athena Institute is a science-based organization placing a high value on credibility, transparency, and collaboration. Its goal is to provide robust and clear information that ensures footprint claims about materials and buildings are based on supported facts. Athena develops LCA data and software tools specifically related to construction, such as the Impact Estimator and the EcoCalculator. Athena also provides education, advocacy and expertise as North American codes and standards evolve towards LCA. With a highly specialized team of collaborators, the Athena Institute is frequently contracted for custom research projects that require a particularly deep level of knowledge and experience in construction sector LCA. Whenever possible, results of these research projects are linked back to the core goal of delivering LCA tools to the construction sector as a whole.

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Singapore (PRWEB UK) 15 February 2012

This is yet another good example of how A*STAR?s R&D capabilities, in partnership with companies, can bring economic value to Singapore. These technologies will be showcased at the Singapore Airshow from 14-19 February at Changi Exhibition Centre, Booth D35.

Showcased by A*STAR?s seven science and engineering research institutes, the advanced technologies are categorised into four key areas: airframe; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO); electronics and communications and aviation logistics.

Among the A*STAR innovations are:

A) Airframe

Creating Deep Bonds – A fast curing technology for aerospace sealants and adhesives.

Existing sealants used to repair fuel leaks, install windshields and windows to seal out moisture in aircraft typically takes a few days to fully cure at normal room temperature. Short wave infrared (IR) radiation penetrates deeply into materials and ensures a more uniform curing through heating. IR radiation is currently used in devices such as heat scanners and sensors. The new and simple curing process, which does not compromise the integrity of the sealants, takes only one to two hours instead of seven days to complete. This means that it uses only 3-5% of the normal time taken by current aerospace industry curing processes, translating into increased productivity and operational efficiency, and could result in significant cost savings.

Waves of Change ? Modelling of electromagnetic interactions in an aircraft

The ever-increasing demand for communication, navigation, and entertainment leads to heavy adoption of high-speed electronic devices and wireless networks inside the airplane. While wireless communication removes the weight of connecting cables and reduces maintenance fees, it worsens the electromagnetic environment inside the aircraft. Because of this it has become increasingly important to simulate and analyse electromagnetic interactions inside the airplane?s closed environment for reliable aircraft operational functions. The A*STAR-developed advanced simulation technology accurately models the electromagnetic interactions in a closed environment.

B) Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO)

Get in Shape Fast ? Advanced metal forming technology of high performance materials

Conventional high performance materials such as chromoly steel, nickel-based alloy and titanium alloys are used for aerospace engine components. The fabrication cost of these materials is high as these tough materials are difficult to form into components of various complex shapes. A novel yet flexible forming technology is being developed to bend and form high-performance materials and thin-walled components of light-weight materials without secondary process, saving time and material cost by 14% and 40% respectively.

Repair With A New Shine ? Applications of Laser Aided Additive Manufacturing for Repair of Engine Components

Laser Aided Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) technology can be used to accurately repair damaged parts and directly manufacture nickel-base and titanium-base superalloy 3D components. These tough materials are difficult to repair due to cracking, oxidation and the need to maintain grain size and micro structure integrity. Due to the low heat input and high automation level, LAAM technology has shown its significant advantages over traditional repair processes such as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding and thermal spraying. Traditional repair processes cause distortion and peel-off arising from low bonding strength. LAAM technology yields several productivity improvements. Manpower training takes only two weeks compared to a minimum of half a year before an operator is qualified and experienced for repair work. The deposition rate with localised heating also increases. Current TIG method requires four days to achieve consistent quality for a part compared to 20 minutes. Less material is removed, saving machining time. Current TIG cladding requires about 54% material removal compared to 20% for LAAM.

Making Good Sense ? Health monitoring and diagnosis

A contactless health and diagnostics check is used for detection of early corrosion surface cracks (including length, width and depth) of less than 1mm and defect detection in composite parts against disbond, de-lamination impact damage. With the rapid scan rates of 0.06m/min ? 1.2m/min, non-visible surface cracks can be detected reliably and accurately, minimising potential downtime and improving operational efficiency. Unlike the current ultrasonic methods, this monitoring and diagnostic system is able to detect cracks under paint and thin non-conductive coatings. It does not require a medium to transmit signals into the materials under test.

C) Electronics and Communications

Solutions for flight circuit boards and robust memory system

Hot Stuff ? Integrated circuits for operation up to 300?C

Many industries such as oil exploration, aerospace and automotive require electronic circuitry that operates at high temperatures.To address these upcoming needs, A*STAR?s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) Rugged Electronics Programme develops sensor interface electronics that can reliably measure various physical parameters at soaring temperatures of up to 300?C and at environmental pressure of up to 30Kpsi. IME researchers are exploiting the low leakage current feature of Silicon On Insulator-CMOS process to develop circuit devices aimed to work at temperature of 300?C. IME?s new approach will address the limitations of conventional Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) to enable high resolution sensor interface circuits that can deliver critical data in harsh environments.????

No Fleeting Moments ? Non-volatile memories for high performance, radiation hardened aerospace applications

Leading the way is the next-generation technology that uses non-volatile memories for on-board flight applications and sensor networks of structural health monitoring systems. Non-volatile memories aim to provide error-correction codes specially designed for memories exposed to high temperatures and high radiation emissions.This high-performance electronics applied to aircraft components allow condition-based repair and maintenance, instead of routine-based repair. Using such integrated damage monitoring systems can help to decrease the cost of repair and maintenance by up to 20%. To fully realise this advantage, memories needed for such application should have a large capacity, the ability to operate in high temperatures, low power consumption, and be resistant to radiation. Current memory devices based on conventional flash and Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) technologies tend to perform poorly. The non-volatile memories?Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory and Phase-Change Random Access Memory technologies are two core competencies that A*STAR?s Data Storage Institute has developed. More than 30 patents have been filed for this area.

Connect on the Fly ? Next Generation Cabin Communication Platform

In-flight entertainment and communication services are fast gaining importance for airline operators in their bid to attract customers by providing best possible services. However the size, weight, and power constraints of aircraft systems, coupled with rapid advancement in the multitude of communication and entertainment technologies mean that traditional methods of dedicated systems for each supported technology are no longer efficient. A customisable Software Defined Radio (SDR) enables the use of a common platform to be utilised across different aerospace communication systems, such as Global Systems for Mobile, Code Division Multiple Access, and Wireless Local Area Network present in the industry. As the number of users for different access technologies changes, it can intelligently reconfigure the resource distribution among different base access point functions, ensuring maximum number of users.

D) Aviation Logistics

Find it, Move it, Use it ? Automated Control and Self-Recovery System of Airfreight Terminal Operations

To build a world-class fully automated airfreight terminal, A*STAR SIMTech successfully completed an automated control and self-recovery system that executes and controls the transfer of containers across multiple material handling systems. The airfreight terminal contains over 80 different material handling systems which span over eight levels and was designed to handle 800,000 tons per annum. A solution that allowed for automated control and self-recovery system was developed. This system can execute and control the transfer of containers across multiple material handling systems, an on-line origin-to-destination route configuration, operating vehicles in four different modes (Auto, Semi-Auto, Manual and Maintenance), handling of containers of different containers, and transfer optimisation of equipment capable of handling two to six containers. Over more than 10 years of operations, this automated control system has been proven and its capabilities enhanced. The project clinched the 2003 Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) Prestigious Engineering Award.

Details of all 15 technologies are appended in the Annex (see link).

“Amidst the global economic uncertainty, the aerospace industry also faces global challenges with fluctuating fuel costs and the need to optimise operational efficiencies. Science and technology can be tapped to push technological breakthroughs and tackle issues of cost efficiencies, productivity and safety for the industry. Collaborative R&D is a cost effective platform to achieve this,? said Dr Raj Thampuran, Executive Director of the Science and Engineering Research Council of *STAR.

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(PRWEB) February 14, 2012

The University of Connecticut’s first Startup Weekend attracted talented men and women of all ages to the campus to accomplish a remarkable feat: turning the seed of a business plan into a viable company ? in just 54 hours.

The unique blend of ambition, education and fortune makes Startup Weekend unique among business plan competitions as attendees experience the full gamut of building a start-up company in microcosm by brainstorming, developing and pitching business plans – all in one weekend. Startup weekend statistics also indicate that one in three of the ideas developed at a weekend event go on to become successful businesses.

Those who attended the UConn conference – Connecticut?s third, following a Hartford and a New Haven convention – were each allowed 60 seconds to pitch a business plan in an open mic forum at the outset of the competition, then vote on their favorite pitches. The entrepreneurs behind the 13 highest-ranked ideas formed teams with other attendees – many of whom they were meeting for the first time.

Immediately after coming together, the teams began preparing for the final competition – five minutes to pitch their business plan to a panel of judges.

Mentors spent Friday evening, Saturday and most of the day Sunday meeting with each of the 13 groups, offering their expert advice. Teasing out the perfect business model required a lot of back-and-forth discussion between the mentors and team members.

UConn students won two of the three grand prizes including a first place award to Platforum, a mobile forum-consolidation app developed by the partnership of computer science seniors Andrew Jorgensen and Hemel Shah.

On Sunday night, each of the 13 groups had five minutes to pitch their idea to a panel of five judges – including Kevin Bouley, the president and CEO of Tolland-based Nerac, Inc., and Mary Anne Rooke, director of the Technology Incubation Forum at UConn?s Avery Point campus.

?Raise your hand if you?ve ever done a Google search to find an answer to your problem.? That was the opening for the pitch by team Platforum.

Every hand in the audience went up.

Jorgensen and Shah then went on to explain that their research showed that for every question typed into Google, 75% of the top results are forums – online communities where experienced users answer questions posed by novices. This was the germ for the idea behind Platforum.

The company?s plan: to aggregate nearly 200,000 of the most highly-trafficked forums and make them accessible through a user-friendly mobile app interface. The value is easily consumable, on-the-go access to a broad and expanding spectrum of expert advice.

?Product development is about more than just great ideas,? Jorgensen remarked. ?You can have a super cool idea but to turn it into a product that people want you have to attack a problem from every possible angle and it’s really important to take in other people?s perspectives.?

The judges? immediately zeroed in on the financial details, asking Jorgensen to clarify how much money he expected the venture to earn – and how quickly he expected it to break even. ?Our business model relies on tapping into a proven revenue stream,? responded Jorgensen. ?We know that forums use ad revenue as their primary source of income and that the range is $ 100K – $ 500K per year per forum. An average forums sees 10 ? 15% of their queries from mobile devices. Using this information and traditional ad splits, our models show an average stream of $ 16K per year per forum. We estimate break even at 50 forums which is only a 3% market penetration.?

Each grand prize winner received $ 250 and the promise of server space and hardware from Softlayer, a company that provides Internet hosting. The winners can use this server space to host their Web sites and their company servers.

Jorgensen and Shah said they are already planning to continue with Platforum, and had begun securing partners and investors through conversations started during the weekend.

About Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend, http://www.startupweekend.org, is a global non-profit organization funded by the Hoffman Foundation sponsoring competitions in which teams have 54 hours to conceive a business concept and take to prototype and be judged by a panel of industry experts. Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday teams focus on customer development, validating their ideas, practicing LEAN Startup Methodologies and building a minimal viable product. On Sunday evening teams demo their prototypes and receive valuable feedback from a panel of experts. According to Danny Briere, the Connecticut liaison with Startup America, the organization is planning another Startup Weekend in Stamford, but has yet to release a date or location.

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Edmonton, AB (PRWEB) February 11, 2012

Air travellers heading to the U.S. from Edmonton International Airport (EIA) will experience an entirely new flying experience when the new terminal officially opens Saturday, February 11, as part of the overall 2012 expansion.

This marks Stantec?s tenth major airport project in Canada. One out of every three passengers flying in North America today will travel through an airport where Stantec has completed a significant project.

Stantec, along with partners MMM Group and PCL Construction, worked to create a world-class airport terminal at EIA, designed with passenger experience and comfort in mind.

?We have introduced a number of exciting architectural ideas into the building,? said Stanis Smith, Stantec’s Senior Vice President for Buildings. ?This terminal will set a new standard for 21st century airports, with innovations ranging from artwork that is an integral part of the passenger experience, to the latest concepts in sustainability?.

Architectural highlights of the new terminal include:

????The first ?Living Wall? ever incorporated into an airport terminal, which will use hydroponically-fed plants to enhance indoor air quality,
????Unique commissioned art and sculpture,
????Terraced roofs that maximize natural light and views of the landscape, making wayfinding intuitive,
????A stunning new entry experience that says ?Welcome to Edmonton? to all passengers arriving on U.S. or international flights,
????The latest retail and food & beverage concepts, and
????A sustainable design that will be one of the first airports in North America to formally apply for LEED? certification

?A world-class city deserves a world-class international airport, and that?s what this is all about,? says Reg Milley, EIA President and CEO. ?From the art and architecture to the sustainability features and even the furniture, the newly expanded airport is designed to deliver a superior customer experience. It has been designed to be an airport our community can be proud of.?

About Stantec

Stantec provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects. We support public and private sector clients in a diverse range of markets at every stage, from the initial conceptualization and financial feasibility study to project completion and beyond. Our services are provided on projects around the world through approximately 11,000 employees operating out of more than 170 locations in North America and 4 locations internationally. Stantec is One Team providing Integrated Solutions.

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(PRWEB) February 08, 2012

Venture Cap Caf? has launched an innovative business news curation and aggregation site dedicated to providing access to the most compelling articles by today?s leading authors. The site highlights engaging topics and original narratives while allowing readers to customize their content delivery to receive the stories that connect with them.

The new site is curated by experienced content directors who select featured articles on a variety of topics. Articles are presented in digital form, with select items also available as audio or print-on-demand books. Venture Cap Caf??s editors select the most readable and captivating stories from topics such as economics, culture, technology, business, science, and more. Content is educational, entertaining, and always hand selected. Venture Cap Caf? highlights stories from established authors like Phin Upham and Matt Taibbi, as well as up and coming writers.

Venture Cap Caf? will also provide an extensive social network built around great stories. The site gives readers the opportunity to follow their favorite curators, engage in discussions on content, and receive personalized reading recommendations ? allowing them to tailor the site?s content to their own reading preferences. The site also functions as a platform for writers, enabling them to connect directly with their audience and be published among the best current authors in journalism.

Venture Cap Caf? adds content daily, and its editorial directors are constantly working to research the best content sources in journalism keep their readers updated. Access the site at http://www.VCCafe.net and start connecting with stories that will illuminate new outlooks and inspire new ideas.

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Newburyport, MA (PRWEB) February 08, 2012

The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C), an association of individuals, institutions and organizations of higher education engaged in online learning, outlined several major leadership changes in the organization today. Board of Directors President Meg Benke announced the selection of Bruce Chaloux as Sloan-C?s new executive director and chief executive officer, succeeding John Bourne, who is retiring from Sloan-C in March. Dr. Benke also announced Associate Director Kathleen Ives will assume added responsibilities with the Sloan-C leadership team following her promotion to chief operating officer. In addition, Chief Knowledge Officer Janet Moore has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks (JALN).

?Sloan-C extends our deepest gratitude to John Bourne for his vision and many years of leadership,? said Dr. Benke. ?As we transition forward, we are fortunate to have Dr. Chaloux, with his extraordinary combination of skills, expertise and passion for the Sloan-C mission, leading the organization.?

Among Dr. Bourne?s many contributions during his tenure as executive director was the establishment of the Sloan-C Institute, which provides professional development in online higher education through membership, annual conferences, workshops and certificate programs, including blended, STEM, emerging technologies and other focus areas.

Dr. Chaloux is a national expert on online learning policy and distance learning. He joins Sloan-C from the Southern Regional Education Board where he served as director of student access programs and services. He founded and directed the Electronic Campus, a 16-state consortia of some 300 colleges and universities in the South, that make available more than 40,000 online courses and 2,000 degree programs. In 2005, he led Sloan-C?s national effort to assist students and institutions impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?Sloan Semester?recognized for demonstrating the capacity of online learning to aid students in a crisis.

Previously, Dr. Chaloux served in the Graduate School at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, on the staff of the Virginia State Council of Higher Education and as a faculty member and academic administrator at Castleton State College in his native state of Vermont. He holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University, a Master of Education from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science from Castleton State. Dr. Chaloux previously served as president of the Sloan Consortium Board of Directors and has been active in many higher education leadership organizations.

?I am honored to have been selected to succeed John and to help Sloan-C continue to expand quality online programming,? said Dr. Chaloux. ?Online learning continues a remarkable period of growth, in no small part because of the efforts of Sloan-C and our community.?

?Dr. Ives has been an influential contributor to the development of the Sloan-C mission and organization,? said Dr. Benke. ?We are delighted to have her joining the leadership team as our new COO.?

In her current role as associate director, Dr. Ives directed the launch of Sloan-C?s highly successful workshops as well as other certificate programs and many other Sloan-C initiatives, including the establishment of the Sloan-C Institute. She has extensive management and marketing experience. Previously she served as executive vice president and COO of The Kelsey Group, a market research and consulting firm specializing in online local media and mobile advertising, and was managing director of Electronic Services at Verizon. Dr. Ives holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix and teaches online.

ABOUT SLOAN-C

The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) is an institutional and professional leadership organization dedicated to integrating online education into the mainstream of higher education, helping institutions and individual educators improve the quality, scale, and breadth of education. For more information, visit http://www.sloanconsortium.org.

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Herndon, VA (PRWEB) February 07, 2012

The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced today a $ 100,000 investment in Falls Church, Va.-based Distil, Inc. Distil is a cloud-based software as a service company that protects online content from malicious bots, web scrapers, and harmful traffic; preserving search engine optimization (SEO) rankings, protecting proprietary digital content, and improving advertising revenue.

Distil?s Content Protection Network (CPN) allows passing web traffic to filter through a series of algorithms that distinguish legitimate search engines and user traffic from malicious traffic and other destructive attacks. Using these algorithms, Distil?s network can make decisions regarding the validity of each user in real-time, enabling content creators to transparently protect and control the distribution of their content.

CIT President and CEO Pete Jobse said, ?Distil?s cloud-based solution offers a barrier against the theft of proprietary online content ? a challenge facing many of today?s businesses. Our investment demonstrates our commitment to funding entrepreneurs with an ambition to develop technologies that solve these challenges. ?

A key feature of Distil?s CPN includes simple integration, thus allowing for only one configuration change to occur before a client is able to use the software exclusively for their website. Operating in the cloud, Distil incorporates intelligent adaption allowing the aggregate data to distribute across all clients, efficiently adjusting algorithms to block new forms of data attacks. This immediate data push shields companies from dangerous cyber security threats instantaneously. Additionally, Distil?s cloud application accelerates the delivery of content through connection points that are closest to the end user, as a result improving page load times and reducing stress on client infrastructure. Distil?s platform also allows for each client to customize every aspect of the service to meet their specific needs.

?Distil provides dynamic analytic filters and real-time data updates to ensure that our product is the most powerful solution against these types of threats. Our advanced software architecture, also allows us to offer denial of service (DoS) protection and content acceleration,? said Rami Essaid, Distil Founder and CEO.

Tom Weithman, CIT Vice President and GAP Funds Managing Director, said, ?CIT GAP Funds has tremendous belief in Rami and his ability to execute on the Distil vision. This company is an outstanding example of emerging security technologies that we have in the Commonwealth.?

Since its 2005 launch, CIT GAP Funds has placed over 50 investments across the Commonwealth, deploying more than $ 5M of public funds and attracting $ 16 dollars of private funding for every $ 1 of public money invested. (For a list of portfolio companies, please visit the GAP Funds website.)

Learn more about Distil, Inc. by visiting their website and following them on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Center for Innovative Technology, http://www.cit.org

CIT is a nonprofit corporation that accelerates the next generation of technology and technology companies. CIT creates new technology companies through capital formation, market development and revenue generation services. To facilitate national innovation leadership and accelerate the rate of technology adoption, CIT creates partnerships between innovative technology startup companies and advanced technology consumers.

About the CIT GAP Funds, http://www.citgapfunds.org

CIT GAP Funds makes seed-stage equity investments in Virginia-based technology, clean tech and life science companies with a high potential for achieving rapid growth and generating significant economic return for entrepreneurs, co-investors and the Commonwealth of Virginia. CIT GAP Funds investments are overseen by the CIT GAP Funds Investment Advisory Board (IAB). This independent, third-party panel consists of leading regional entrepreneurs, angel and strategic investors, and venture capital firms such as: New Enterprise Associates, Grotech Ventures, Valhalla Partners, Harbert Venture Partners HIG Ventures, Edison Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Intersouth Partners, SJF Ventures, Carilion Health Systems, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, and Alpha Natural Resources.

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Denville, NJ (PRWEB) February 03, 2012

Nitin Chhoda, a co-creator of the Fat Loss Ignition System (FLI) says, ?Diabetes complications can cause damage to eyes, feet, kidneys and the nervous system. It is designed to help people control glucose levels and lose weight at the same time.?

The Fat Loss Ignition system was developed by fitness professional, Arnel Ricafranca, in cooperation with well-known physical therapist, Nitin Chhoda. This program is helping users control insulin levels that govern how sugar and carbohydrates are utilized within the body, while liberating stored fat.

Foods are converted to glucose in the body, which is a form of sugar that utilized as fuel to power every activity that an individual performs, from sleeping to intense exercise. To convert glucose to energy, the body creates the hormone insulin. If there?s an insulin imbalance or absence, food isn?t utilized efficiently, it?s stored as fat, and can lead to diabetes.

The FLI system provides users with an extensive variety of recipes that aids in controlling glucose levels that can result in diabetes-related conditions ranging from heart attack and high blood pressure to kidney disease and blindness. The program ends unhealthy cravings and energy crashes that are often experienced by those with diabetes.

In FLI, there is no calorie counting required and the system removes toxins from the body that inhibits the loss of stored fat reserves. It accelerates the metabolism and exercises that facilitate fat loss are provided. When food is consumed is just as important as what?s eaten and the program helps users plan meal times that helps regulate insulin levels.

Users of the program receive a free calculator to show how much weight needs to be lost based on age, gender, height and body frame, the Fat Loss Ignition manual, and a quick start guide. Tips and information is offered to manipulate insulin levels with meal timing, and the Supermarket Survival Checklist walks users through healthy food choices. Also included are Exercise Cheat Sheets, a journal for tracking exercises, and an all-access family pass to the FLI Score Calculator.

With the Fat Loss Ignition system, Chhoda and Ricafranca have developed a way of regulating and manipulating glucose levels, a critical step in preventing and controlling diabetes and its many health complications. An added benefit of the FLI program is the ability to lose 10 percent of unwanted body weight in 28 days. The program helps detoxify the body, while stabilizing insulin and glucose levels for weight loss that?s easy and quick.

Located at 1301 Windsor Court, Suite I in Denville, NJ 07834, the company can be reached by phone at 201-298-3540 or via email at info(at)fatlossignition(dot)com. For more information, visit the website at http://www.fatlossignition.com.

About the Creators

Awarded by the President?s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for helping America get fit and healthy, Arnel Ricafranca is a world-renowned fitness professional and fat loss expert. He is the publisher of an online fitness newsletter called ?Abs Secrets,? read by half a million readers in over 170 countries. He has a degree in Exercise Science with multiple personal training and nutrition certifications. Along with Nitin Chhoda, PT, he is also the creator of the Fat Loss Ignition system, located online at http://www.fatlossignition.com.

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